Martha Fuller Clark for District 21 Senate seat

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fosters.com

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Posted Oct. 2, 2012 at 3:15 AM

Posted Oct. 2, 2012 at 3:15 AM

On Nov. 6, voters should take the opportunity to return a familiar face to the state Senate.

Martha Fuller Clark spent six years in the New Hampshire Senate, from 2005-2011. Now in 2012 she is a candidate in District 21 which, as a result of redistricting, represents Durham, Lee, Madbury, Newfields, Newington, Newmarket and Portsmouth.

Fuller Clark is viewed by the editorial board here at Foster's Daily Democrat as knowledgeable and dedicated.

Of particular note has been her fight against donor towns, which were created by a convoluted plan to address the Claremont decisions of the N.H. Supreme Court. It was these decisions that determined the state responsible for first-to-last-dollar funding of local education cost for students. This led to communities like Portsmouth having to send local tax dollars to other communities.

As a state senator, Fuller Clark also worked to find funding for the replacement of the Memorial Bridge, a vital link between Maine and New Hampshire. Thanks, in part, to her efforts the work is well under way.

Fuller Clark, a Democrat, has shown an ability to work across the aisle for the good of her constituents, regardless of party — something that can be seen in her bipartisan work on donor towns and the Memorial Bridge.

As she stated when she announced her bit to return to the Senate:

"I pledge to work in a bipartisan manner to create common-sense solutions to build New Hampshire's economy, promote jobs and protect New Hampshire's unique resources — its quality of life and its people."

In moving foward, our editorial board believes that Fuller Clark has much to offer a state Senate which must continue to make tough choices as the economy sputters along.

Part of what she offers is a lengthy and unmatched legislative resume when it comes to the District 21 race:

— Senate president pro tem 2008-2010;

— Chair, Senate Energy, Environment and Economic Development Committee; and

— Vice Chair, Senate Executive Departments and Administration.

She also served on the Senate Education Committee, the Senate Transportation Committee, and the Joint Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules as well as the Senate Health and Human Services Committee.

And if that wasn't enough she put in stints on the NH Rail Authority and the LCHIP Board.

In closing, we would offer only once caveat. As readers are aware, the Republican heritage of Foster's Daily Democrat makes our editorial board very stingy with a tax dollar. It is our hope and advice that, should Fuller Clark return to Concord, she will recognize the need to keep a tight rein on state spending.

That said, we have faith that Fuller Clark is the right choice for voters of District 21.

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For the benefit of readers throughout the region, a list of redrawn Senate districts affecting the southeastern New Hampshire and the Seacoast can be found below. A map can be found at http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/images/SB201.jpeg

(Editor's note: These are the districts which include the broader readership area of Foster's Daily Democrat.)